Collapsible slingshot bow

ABSTRACT

A collapsible slingshot bow for firing an arrow has a head comprising a first U-shaped member including a central post and a pair of arms extending laterally of, and from, the post, the arms terminating in free end portions that extend rearwardly of the post. One end of the post opposite the arms includes a connector, and the head includes a bow string for engaging and launching the arrow. A handle is formed as an elongated handgrip portion having another connector at one end for engagement with connector on the post. An arm support includes a second U-shaped member attached to the handgrip portion via a releasable connector carried by the arm support. A flexible strap having a nock-engaging portion spans the length between the ends of the pair of arms. In using the bow, an archer inserts one of his hands between the ends of the U-shaped member so that his forearm is positioned below the strap; he then grasps the handgrip portion of the handle with the inserted hand thereby securely holding the bow in a fixed position while supporting the bow against his arm so that he can load and launch an arrow with his other hand.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hand-held bow configured as a slingshot for launching arrows and the like. In comparison to a conventionalbow for propelling arrows, a significant advantage of the presentslingshot bow is its smallness in size and its being easily andconveniently carried.

BACKGROUD OF THE INVENTION

Prior inventions support the notion that smaller bows are inherentlyadvantageous. Various features contribute to the versatility of smallerbows including simplicity of construction, substantial reduction inweight, ease and economy of transport, and ease of use, especially byeither a “lefty” (one who uses his/her left arm, hand, leg or foot) or a“righty” (one who uses or favors his right arm, hand, leg or foot)without significant modification.

One example of a known device exhibiting some of these features is theinvention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,018,770 to Saunders for a “SLINGSHOT”. The Saunders patent discloses a sling bow having an arm rest forsteadying the bow when the sling is stretched, and an arm brace 2 forsupporting the bow on the shooter's arm. In Saunders, the elastic “powerlinks” D are formed from tubes of rubber.

Another noteworthy invention is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,728,996 to Miller. In the Miller patent there is disclosed a slingshot for discharging an arrow that includes a Y-shaped hand-held supporthaving a displaceable sight rod for accurately aiming an arrow that ispropelled by elastic band members.

Still another invention of note is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.7,059,314 to Teague. In the Teague patent, there is shown a sling bowhaving a flat elongated handle and a Y-shaped end with an off-centerquarter circle shaped notch against the side of which the shaft of aconventional arrow rests before it is launched by elastic straps securedin slots cut into the Y-shaped end on opposite sides of the notch.

Each of the above-mentioned patents has drawbacks, especially withrespect to adjustability, reliability and accuracy of shooting. Forexample, the bow in the Saunders patent must be disassembled from oneconfiguration suitable for shooting by a left-hander and thenreassembled into a different configuration that is suitable for shootingby a right-hander. All of the foregoing patents suffer from thedifficulty associated with maintaining accuracy of the projectiletrajectory, inasmuch as the arrow rests of the patented devices will notmove out of the flight path of the projectile until it is struck by theprojectile. This potentially then diverts the projectile from itsintended flight path. Further, neither Teague nor Miller provide an armrest to maintain the bow in a steady position while stretching and thenreleasing the power bands.

There is therefore a great and long-felt need for a sling bow which islight weight, not cumbersome in construction, easy to store andtransport, inexpensive and simple in design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a sling bow that is simple inconstruction, light in weight, easy to store and transport, and can beused without modification by a “lefty” or a “righty”.

In one aspect of the invention, a compact, hand-held sling bow includesa horizontal head portion, a handle portion, and a support portion inwhich the relative angle between the handle portion and the head portioncan be adjusted relative to one another such that the power bandsupported by the head portion can retain its horizontal orientationregardless of whether the bow is used by a “lefty” or a “righty”.

In another aspect of the invention, the support portion includes aU-shaped length of flexible strap for snuggly engaging the forearm of auser of the bow to steady the bow during its use.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the horizontal head portion isfashioned into a U-shaped element between the ends of which is anelastic band designed to engage one end of an elongated projectile whilethe band is drawn away from the U-shaped element and then released in adirection back toward the U-shaped element so that the projectile can bepropelled forwardly with greater speed than the speeds generated bysling bow constructions currently known in the art.

In still another aspect of the present invention, the material used forthe elastic strap and its manner of attachment to the head portionenables a projectile to be propelled forwardly at speeds greater thanthe speeds achieved by conventional sling bow devices using similarelastic bands.

In still another aspect of the present invention, the elastic strap ofthe sling bow functions as the power producing mechanism for propellingthe projectile, and there is no tuning or adjustment of the draw lengthrequired.

The present invention achieves these objectives and others not statedabove through its simplicity of construction, configuration and use. Thesling bow of the present invention comprises a three-part constructionof a bow head, a bow handle, and a bow support. The bow head isconfigured as a U-shaped support having an elongated central post with aconnection point formed at one end portion and, at the opposite endportion, a first set of arms extending laterally outwardly of, andupwardly from the central post. Each arm of the first set of arms has asecond arm extending rearwardly from, and normal to, its respectivefirst arm with a power band connected to each second arm. The bow handlecomprises an elongated member supporting in surrounding manner a gripmember, such as a rubber or padded sleeve.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the invention willbecome readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdescription and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bow and power band of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a bundle of bowstring used in forming the power bandof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of one end of the tubing used secured to one ofthe bow arms of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the tubing shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows the bowstring bundle after performing a step in one methodfor forming the power band of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows the bowstring bundle in relation to the tubing end shown inFIG. 3 after performing another sequential step in the method of theinvention;

FIG. 7 shows the bowstring bundle in relation to the tubing end shown inFIG. 3 after performing yet another sequential step in the method of theinvention;

FIG. 8 shows a fourth step in the method of forming the power band ofthe invention;

FIG. 9 shows the power band of the invention after completing theformation method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, the sling bow 100 of the present invention isseen to include a bow head 10, a bow handle 30, and a bow arm support40. It is contemplated that a projectile (not shown), such as aconventional arrow, will be used with the bow of the invention. Such aprojectile would include a nock at the end of a shaft that would engagethe power band 70 at a nock-engagement portion 85, and would bepropelled forwardly of the bow head when the power band is released.

The bow head 10 includes a frame having central support post 12, and apair of arms 14 a, 14 b extending substantially laterally of the centralpost 12. The end of each arm includes a first short segment 16 a, 16 bextending substantially normal to a respective arm 14 a, 14 b. The armfirst segments are arranged substantially parallel with one another. Thearms, the arm first segments, and the central post together define asubstantially planar head portion. At the free end of each first shortsegment 16 a, 16 b is a second short segment 17 a, 17 b extending awayfrom the substantially planar portion in a rearward direction (i.e.,toward the user) and generally toward one another. Attached to andencompassing end portions of each of the arms, and preferably includingthe first and second segments, are first and second sections of tubing19 a, 19 b. Preferably, the first and second sections of tubing are madefrom a strong rubber material having a high degree of strength,elasticity, and resilience, such as surgical rubber or other likematerial exhibiting similar properties.

The bow handle 30 comprises an elongated handle member 32 havingconnection points 34 a, 34 b at opposite end regions for connecting thehandle member between the central support post 12 of the bow head 10 andthe bow arm support 40. The connection is maintained by a releasableconnector assembly, such as a bolt and nut, and can be loosened to allowrotation or pivoting of the bow head relative to the bow handle, or thebow handle relative to the arm support, prior to tightening theconnector to secure the two parts to one another thereby preventingfurther relative pivoting motion. The present invention alsocontemplates loosening and removing the connectors to permit all threeof the parts to be disassembled for storage or to facilitate transport.Encircling a central region of the handle member 32 is a cushioningsleeve 36. The cushioning sleeve is resilient enough to allows ashooter's hand to snuggly and securely grasp the bow handle 30 whileloading, aiming, and “firing” or launching a projectile.

The arm support 40 of the bow includes a U-shaped member 42 having aflexible strap 44 secured at, and spanning, the free ends 46 a, 46 b ofthe “U”. The length of the strap is slightly greater than the distancebetween the free ends so as to permit a snug fit between the user's armand the underside of the strap when the user inserts his hand betweenthe arms of the U-shaped member and grasps the sleeve 36 of the handlemember. The strap 44 can be braided as shown in FIG. 1, or it can beflat and without surface texture, such as a belt or strap. Preferablythe strap will be of sufficient thickness to prevent its breakage undernearly all circumstances associated with its use. Member 42 isreleasably pivoted to handgrip 30 via a bracket 43.

The arms 14 a and 14 b of the bow head are seen to originate at theupwardmost area of the central post and extend upwardly and laterallytherefrom in such a manner as to form, with the central post, a V-shapedcrook 21, which functions to support the forward portion of an arrow'sshaft prior to its being fired. Guide 23, comprising a length ofsubstantially rigid or taut cord having its ends tightly secured toportions of the arms adjacent opposite sides of the crook 21, isprovided to overly the forward portion of the arrow shaft to keep thearrow shaft securely positioned on the crook 21 while the power strap isbeing tensioned in readiment for launching the arrow. The guide 23 alsofacilitates accurate aiming of the arrow, during arming of the bow andlaunching of the arrow by maintaining the arrow shaft in the crook.

FIGS. 2-9 are a series of illustrations showing one process for formingthe power band 70. This process contemplates following a sequence ofsteps that will yield the power band for the bow of the presentinvention. A first step is to form the bundle 72 of bowstrings as shownin FIG. 2 by repeatedly winding multiple strands of bow string into aloop and then twisting the loop about a central section 74 to yield endloops 73 a and 73 b. By performing the process described below, thebundle 72 will be transformed into the power band 70 seen in FIG. 1 withthe central section 74 providing an engagement area for a nock engagingloop 110. The thus-formed power band will span the ends of the tubingattached to the arms of the bow head 10 (note FIG. 1).

The second step of the process contemplated by the present invention,and best understood with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, entails selecting aregion of tubing, having a length of about ¾ of an inch measured fromthe free end of the tubing, and folding the region back upon theremainder of the length of tubing while pushing it inside the tubing(thus forming a “folded under” section of tubing) to create adoubled-thickness wall section D of significantly increased strength dueto the two thicknesses of material (one within the other) through and towhich the bowstring 72 will be secured. FIG. 4 shows the “folded under”end of the tubing looking at the end of the tubing from outside the end.

In the third step of the process, as best illustrated in FIG. 5, one endloop 73 b of the bowstring bundle 72 is separated into two substantiallyequal sub-loop portions 73b1 and 73b2, each originating from the sameside of the central section. In the third step of the process, eachend-loop portion is, with the aid of a needle-like instrument such as aneedle or awl (not shown), threaded radially through both layers atopposing sides of the “folded under” wall section D of the tubing end.

The fourth step of the process of the invention entails radially pullingeach of the respective bundle sub-loop portions through the tubingsegment at D in the manner shown in FIG. 6.

In the fifth step of the process, best illustrated in FIG. 7 of thedrawings, each protruding sub-loop portion 73b1 and 73b2 is then loopedover the end of the tubing segment toward the oppositely disposed one ofthe other sub-loop portion while encircling the central section 74 ofthe bowstring bundle 72 now extending from within, and parallel to, thetubing bore. That is, in effecting this fifth step, the central section74 of the bowstring bundle that extends longitudinally from within thetubing bore also extends through the two sub-loops 73b1 and 73b2.

In the sixth step of the process, the central portion 74 is grasped andpulled tightly in a longitudinal direction away from the tubing end tothereby cause the bundle sub-loop portions to contract around, and betightly secured circumferentially against, the outer surface of the endof the wall section D of the tubing (see FIG. 8).

In the seventh sixth step of the process, each of the preceding steps(the first through sixth steps) of the process are again performed onthe second end loop 73 a of the bowstring bundle relative to the other,second, segment of tubing attached to the other arm of the bow head 10.When completed, the facing ends of the tubing will be connected togetherto form the power band 70, as shown in FIG. 9. In this step of theprocess, a loop of material, preferably in the form of a strap 110, issecured to the mid-section of the power band 70

The configuration of the bow frame, and the use of rubber tubingpossessing superior structural and functional properties, such assurgical rubber tubing, as the elastic power band for the bow, resultsin enhanced stretching and strength properties, in substantially greaterflight speeds for the projectiles than are achieved with conventionalbows and bow strings, in a novel bow construction that will permit quickand repeated loading and launching of arrows, and in a bow that can beused over and over without fear of breakage or damage. In addition,because the bow head 10, grip portion 30 and arm support portion 40 areable to be separated, the bow of the invention can be carried with greatease to a location where it can be quickly assembled, used, and then asquickly disassembled. The economic and related environmental advantagesof the instant invention are thus self evident.

It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the embodimentsdescribed above and that variations and modifications may be madethereto within the scope of the invention.

1. A collapsible sling bow for firing arrows, comprising: a headcomprising a first U-shaped member including a central post and a pairof arms extending laterally of, and from, the post, said armsterminating in free end portions that extend rearwardly of the post, oneend of said post opposite the arms including connection means, said headfurther including bow string means for engaging and launching the arrow,a handle comprising an elongated handgrip portion having connectionmeans at a first end for detachable engagement with the post connectionmeans, and an arm support comprising a second U-shaped member detachablyattached to the handgrip portion via releasable connection means carriedby the arm support and cooperating with the connection means of saidhandle, and a flexible strap spanning the ends of the U-shaped member,whereby in using the bow, an archer inserts one of his hands between theends of the U-shaped member toward the handgrip so that his forearm ispositioned below the strap, and then he grasps the handgrip portion ofthe handle with that one hand to securely hold the bow in a fixedposition while supporting the bow against his arm so that he can loadand launch an arrow with his other hand.
 2. The sling bow of claim 1,wherein said bow string means comprises a power band made of a length ofelastic material attached to, and spanning, the free end portions ofsaid arms, said length of elastic material having attached thereto anock-engaging loop located substantially centrally of the distancebetween said free end portions.
 3. The collapsible sling bow of claim 2,wherein said arms emanate from said post to define a V-shaped notchagainst which the shaft of an arrow rests while the arrow is beingloaded and launched.
 4. The collapsible sling bow of claim 3, andfurther including a guide element overlying said notch, said guideelement having opposing ends, each of said ends being secured to arespective arm adjacent to said notch.
 5. The collapsible sling bow ofclaim 1, wherein said handle further includes a cushion elementsurrounding a major portion of the length of the handgrip portion. 6.The collapsible sling bow of claim 1, and further including tubingsegments secured to the free end portions of the arms, and bundled bowstrings attached to said tubing segments in such a manner as to form apower band coupled to and spanning the distance between said tubingsegments, said power band having a nock-engaging loop connected thereto.7. The collapsible sling bow of claim 1, wherein the head can bepivotably positioned relative to the handgrip to permit use of the bowby either a right-hander or a left-hander merely by loosening theconnection means between the handle and the bow head, repositioning thehandle and bow head to a new relative position, and tightening theconnection means to secure the handle in the new position relative tothe bow head.
 8. The collapsible sling bow of claim 7, wherein in eitherposition used by a right-hander or a left-hander the bow head ispreferably maintained in a horizontal orientation.
 9. In a slingshot bowhaving opposed arms, a bowstring comprising: a multistrand section ofbowstring material having a central substantially rigid twisted portionand end portions comprising loops, and a pair of tubing segments havingopposing ends, one end of each segment being secured to a respective oneof the arms of said bow and the other end of each segment being securedto a respective one of the loops of said multi-strand bowstring, saidbowstring extending between said bow arms and defining a power band forlaunching projectiles from said bow.
 10. The slingshot bow of claim 9,and further including a loop of material secured substantially centrallyof said central portion, and defining a nock-engaging element.
 11. Thebow of claim 10, wherein the end of each tubing segment comprises adouble-walled portion having a short length of tubing folded into thebore of the tubing, and further wherein each said loop of said bowstringextends radially through both walls of said double walled portion oftubing and is secured on the outside of said tubing.
 12. A method offorming a power band for attachment to a slingshot bow having opposingarms, said method comprising: providing a finite length of amulti-strand bowstring having a central portion located between andinterconnecting opposing loop portions; attaching one loop portion ofthe bowstring to a first segment of tubing; attaching the other loopportion to a second segment of tubing; and securing each of the firstand second segments of tubing to a respective one of each arm of thebow.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of attaching one loopportion to the first segment of tubing comprises (a) separating eachloop portion into two sub-loops, (b) attaching each sub-loop to aneedle-like instrument, (c) inserting the needle-like instrumentlongitudinally into the end of the tubing, (d) radially piercing thewall of the tubing with the needle-like instrument, (e) drawing eachsub-loop with the needle-like instrument radially through and out of thetubing, (f) detaching each sub-loop from the needle-like instrument; (g)wrapping the sub-loop over the central portion of the bowstringextending out of the tubing and over the tubing end, and (h) exerting alongitudinal pulling force on the central portion to tightly secure thesub-loop circumferentially about and in encircling engagement with thetubing end.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of attachingthe other loop portion to the second segment of tubing comprises (a)separating each loop portion into two sub-loops, (b) attaching eachsub-loop to a needle-like instrument, (c) inserting the needle-likeinstrument longitudinally into the end of the tubing, (d) radiallypiercing the wall of the tubing with the needle-like instrument, (e)drawing each sub-loop with the needle-like instrument radially throughthe tubing wall and out of the tubing, (f) detaching the sub-loop fromthe needle-like instrument; (g) wrapping the sub-loop over the centralportion of the bowstring extending out of the tubing and over the tubingend, and (h) exerting a longitudinal pulling force on the centralportion to tightly secure the sub-loop circumferentially about and inencircling engagement with the tubing end.